Most people living in Norway know that 113 is the medical emergency number. But did you know your GP (fastlege) should actually be your first call – even for urgent problems – during office hours? Here is a simple guide to the three numbers, designed for English-speaking residents in Drammen.
The main rule first
Norway has three different numbers you can call for medical help. Which one to use depends less on how urgent the problem is, and more on what time of day it happens and how life-threatening the situation is.
Life-threatening? → 113. Not life-threatening, during GP office hours? → your GP. Not life-threatening, after GP hours? → 116 117.
This may surprise newcomers. A common misconception is that legevakt (116 117) is the first number to call for any urgent issue. That is not the case. If your GP is open, call your GP first – even for acute problems.
113 – The emergency medical number
When to call: Life-threatening or time-critical situations. The number is run by Norway's regional health authorities, and your call goes to the AMK emergency medical dispatch centre. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Health, 113 typically answers within seconds.
Examples of when 113 is correct:
- Chest pain or breathing difficulties
- Major bleeding
- Loss of consciousness or severely reduced consciousness
- Seizures or convulsions
- Signs of stroke (paralysis, speech problems, facial drooping – the "FAST" test)
- Serious accidents, injuries or poisoning
- Severe psychiatric crisis with risk of suicide
Call 113. It is always appropriate. The operators are trained to triage – if the situation is not critical, they will redirect you without problem.
Your GP (fastlege) – during office hours
When to call: All non-life-threatening health problems, as long as your GP is open. This includes both acute and non-acute issues.
This is perhaps the most important point in this article, because it is often misunderstood. If you have a high fever at midday, acute abdominal pain, a sudden headache, or a minor injury – and it is Monday at 10 AM – you should call your GP, not legevakt.
Why? Because your GP knows you, has your medical record, has a better overview of previous illnesses and medications, and can provide a more holistic assessment than legevakt. In most cases your GP can offer a same-day appointment for urgent problems – called an ø-hjelpstime (immediate-help appointment).
The GP is right for non-acute issues such as:
- Ongoing care of chronic conditions
- Prescription renewals and sick leave
- Health check-ups and blood tests
- Non-acute mental health concerns
- Travel vaccinations and prevention
And for acute (but not life-threatening) issues such as:
- Fever lasting several days
- Sudden pain (stomach, back, joints)
- Infections (throat, ears, urinary tract)
- Rashes or allergic reactions without breathing difficulty
- Minor injuries requiring assessment (wounds, sprains, suspected fractures)
Our phone is open throughout our opening hours. At Hotvet legesenter, an experienced medical secretary answers and quickly assesses how urgent the situation is, booking you in the same day if needed. See our opening hours.
116 117 – Legevakt outside GP hours
When to call: Acute but not life-threatening health needs outside your GP's office hours. The number is run by the municipality – in Drammen's case, Drammen Inter-Municipal Legevakt. The Directorate of Health's own evaluation shows that legevakt wait times vary significantly between municipalities and can be long during busy periods. So: if your GP is open, call them first.
Examples of when 116 117 is correct:
- High fever in children during evening or night
- Acute pain that cannot wait until next working day
- Minor injuries in the evening, night or on weekends
- Acute mental health issues outside office hours
- General acute illness when you are unsure
Decision tree: who do I call?
Ask yourself three questions in order:
→ No: go to question 2.
→ No: go to question 3.
→ No: Call legevakt on 116 117.
About Drammen legevakt
Drammen Inter-Municipal Legevakt is located at Rosenkrantzgata 17 – on the same street as Hotvet legesenter, just a few blocks away. Legevakt covers the Drammen region, Nedre Eiker, Svelvik and Lier.
Important things to know:
- You should always call first on 116 117, not just turn up. The phone triage decides whether you come in or are directed elsewhere.
- Legevakt is not a general practice – they handle acute issues and send you back to your GP for continued care.
- For life-threatening symptoms, call 113, not legevakt.
If in doubt
Uncertainty is normal, and there is no shame in using the "wrong" number. But if you have to choose: for life-threatening situations, 113 is always right. During GP office hours, your GP is right. Outside office hours, legevakt is right.
One final note: Helsenorge.no has a digital first-aid guide with concrete advice on common symptoms – useful if you want background while waiting for a callback or assessing the situation.
Call us during office hours
At Hotvet legesenter we answer the phone on 31 02 13 00 during opening hours. We prioritise urgent problems with same-day ø-hjelpstime when needed. Several of our staff speak English.
Contact us